A Big History of A Small Island

            Bird Island sits roughly half a mile off the coast of Butler Point and Kittansett Golf Club. The island is at the mouth of Sippican Harbor on the approach to Marion. Many stories and local legends persist and are spoken of by locals. So, let’s get to the bottom of the surprising rich and […] Read more »

Colin Rooney of Manchester, CT Wins Race

Mattapoisett’s Independence Day Road Race was held in the morning on Friday, July 4. It was clear and sunny, though there was a cool breeze from the sea undoubtably helping the racers on their way. The night before had seen heavy storms, with major power outages across the South Coast and Southern New England. Due […] Read more »

Bright Morning Greets July 4 Parade

Though there were no fireworks scheduled, the Marion Independence Day Parade still went on! Following a night of spontaneous wind and rain, many gathered along Main, Spring and Front streets to celebrate the 4th. There were some branches down and large puddles along the parade route, though none were obstructive enough to affect the celebration. […] Read more »

What’s Up There?

We are officially past the halfway point of 2025. This month’s astronomical events will mostly be highlighted by meteor showers! Perfect for summer camping trips and marshmallows by the fire.             Following a long hiatus from the night sky, Saturn is once again visible, breaching the horizon around 10:00 pm this month. Easy to spot […] Read more »

Roses of Summer

The moment when the roses are at their best is quite unlike any other. Mattapoisett’s village is full of them right now, cascading over walls, arbors, and fences and adorning gates and gazebos in one climactic summer gush.             There must be more roses here per square foot than anywhere, I think, making my way […] Read more »

#EverybodyLikesToBeThemselves

NolanFest 2025 was held Saturday, June 28 at Silvershell Beach in Marion. The event commemorates the nearly five years since the passing of Nolan Gibbons on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, just after his 15th birthday. Nolan attended Old Rochester Regional High School and had been an at the time. He had, the year before, been […] Read more »

Garden Tour Delivers

Oh, for the love of flowers and human imagination! The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club bi-annual garden tour titled “June in Bloom” was a master class in just what can be done when Mother Nature and her human counterparts collaborate.             Assuredly, the June 28 event presented gardens that have been heavily curated and lovingly nurtured over […] Read more »

Declaration of Independence 249th Anniversary

On July 4, 1776, the United States Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, was signed. A note, most signatories wouldn’t sign until August 2, but I digress. This paper would officially declare, in writing, the United States strove to become a sovereign nation, distinctly not under the […] Read more »

Coalition Safeguards Water Supply

This past May, the Buzzards Bay Coalition acquired 33 acres of land in the Mattapoisett River Valley. The plot at 84 New Bedford Road, Rochester sits off the intersection of Cushman Road and Perry Hill Road and stretches inland near Branch Brook and is neighbor to the Mattapoisett Land Trust’s Mattapoisett River Wildlife Management Area. […] Read more »

Cats, Bees and Politics

            Once upon a time, our quiet little hamlet ran smoothly. Most citizens didn’t know or care about what transpired in the Town Hall’s halls. Registering to vote and attending the Town Meeting, which was held upstairs in the auditorium, was about the only time they entered the place. Elected officials, most part-time, went about […] Read more »